Comparison of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons emission from thermal treatment of petroleum sludge cake in the presence of different additives

Abstract

This study evaluates effectiveness of 4 additives [CaO, Ca(OH)2+ NaHCO3, H2O2, and FeSO4+ H2O2] in thermal degradation of hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in petroleum sludge cake. Residual concentrations of 16 priority PAHs were determined using GC-MS. Total PAH conc. was found as: gas, 3.11 × 10-4- 4.36 × 10-4ppmv; particulate, 7.92 × 10-5- 5.24 × 10-4mg/m3; and residue, 1.37 × 10-4- 1.07 × 100μg/g. Total toxicity equivalence of PAHs relative to that of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) was found as: gas, 3.11 × 10-7- 4.41 × 10-7; particulate, 3.87 × 10-7- 3.85 × 10-5; and residue, 6.17 × 10-7- 9.65 × 10-3. Ca(OH)2+ NaHCO3was most suitable due to least emission of high molecular weight PAHs, lower equivalent carcinogenicity of products, and lower concentrations of PAHs in gas, particulate and residue.